Hank Aaron

Baseball Player

Born: 5 February 1934

Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama

Best known as: Major league baseball's home run leader, 1974-2007

Henry "Hank" Aaron hit 755 home runs during his major league baseball career, making him America's all-time home run leader for the next three decades. Aaron hit number 715 on 8 April 1974, moving him past the record 714 career homers of Babe Ruth. Much like Roger Maris, Aaron was maligned by some fans who thought he was somehow unfit to surpass the mighty Ruth. (Racism played a part; Aaron was black, and he passed Ruth's record only 28 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball.) Aaron retired after the 1976 season, holding the all-time records for home runs (755) and RBIs (2297)and having played in a record 24 All-Star Games. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1982. Aaron published his autobiography, I Had a Hammer, in 1991. San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds passed Aaron's home run record by hitting his 756th home run on 7 August 2007.

Extra credit: Aaron's nickname was "Hammerin' Hank"... He batted and threw right-handed... Aaron wore uniform #44 in the major leagues except during his rookie year, when he wore #5... His brother Tommie Aaron was also a major-leaguer who played with the Braves... Babe Ruth hit his 714th home run in 1935, the year after Aaron was born... Aaron hit his 715th home run off of Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Al Downing... Slugger Sadaharu Oh hit 868 homers during his career (1959-80) in Japan's major leagues, making him the worldwide home run leader... Aaron started his career with the Milwaukee Braves; the team moved to Georgia in 1966, becoming the Atlanta Braves. Aaron played for a new Milwaukee franchise, the Brewers, in 1975 and 1976.